Matthew King, Ph.D.

Summary: My research utilizes laser spectroscopy and computational modeling in two primary areas of study: 1) structure and properties of pharmaceutical formulations; and 2) multimodal optical imaging of biological tissues, with emphasis on changes in extracellular structure associated with cancer progression.

1. Most pharmaceutical compounds can crystallize in multiple forms called polymorphs. These various crystal forms of the same molecule can exhibit significantly different physical properties, such as bioavailability and solubility. This area of research focuses on investigating the underlying factors that lead to polymorphism and the mechanisms leading to transitions between crystal forms. This research involves both experimental and computational approaches to study complex crystal structures and phase transitions.

2. During the progression of cancer, alterations to the structure of the extracellular matrix occur that can facilitate metastasis of cancer cells. Nonlinear optical spectroscopic methods, including second-harmonic generation, coherent anti-Stokes Raman, and two-photon fluorescence, are used for label-free imaging of cancer tissues to investigate changes in the extracellular matrix due to melanoma.

Minimum classes: N/A

Projects:

Modeling of pharmaceutical crystal structures and correlating calculations with experimental spectroscopic measurements of structures and properties. Students will have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art laser systems and learn a variety of computational techniques for modeling molecular systems and spectroscopic data.

Computer-aided drug design of breast cancer therapeutics. Students will use software for visualizing and analyzing small-molecule interactions with proteins associated with breast cancer metastasis. This data is used to propose chemical modifications to the structure of lead compounds to enhance their effectiveness as potential anti-cancer drugs.

Optical imaging of extracellular matrix associated with melanoma progression. Advance laser imaging techniques will be used to image tissues. Image analysis software is applied to evaluate the organization of structural components in the extracellular matrix.